Record Details
Effect of equine-facilitated psychotherapy on posttraumatic stress symptoms in youth with history of maltreatment and abuse
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Effect of equine-facilitated psychotherapy on posttraumatic stress symptoms in youth with history of maltreatment and abuse |
| Names |
McCullough, Leslie M.
(creator) |
| Date Issued | 2011 (iso8601) |
| Note | Access restricted to the OSU Community |
| Abstract | Chronic and severe maltreatment of children in the form of abuse and neglect can provoke a host of neuro/psycho/emotional/physiological problems that can manifest in developmental delays, learning disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavioral disorders such as conduct disorder, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Due to the multidimensional landscape of PTSD, together with the differing treatment needs of the various stages of the disorder, the ages of victims and considering the non-verbal and symbolic language of children, experts agree that research is needed to determine alternative treatment interventions best suited for victims of severe maltreatment. Equine facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) is one example of a comprehensive, child-friendly, experiential treatment for PTSD. The EFP model employed in this study incorporated a mind-body-emotion-spirit approach that invited the creation of metaphor to mirror the client's life. To test the efficacy of using EFP with traumatized youth, a quasi-experimental study was conducted using a purposive convenience sample of eleven youth ages 10-18 who presented with PTSD symptomotology. Participants received eight 1.5-2 hour EFP sessions. The impact of the intervention was examined by the Children's Revised Impact of Events Scale -13 (CRIES-13, a standardized measure of PTSD in children). The strength of the human-animal bonding between equines and participants was measured by the Human-Animal Bond Scale (HABS). Data analysis conducted via nonparametric sign tests, using weighted measures (that later measures were weighted more heavily, theorizing that the clinical improvements would be increasing and cumulative over time) indicated identical significant results both for the CRIES-13 (9 positive pairs, 2 negative pairs, p = 0.033) and the HABS (9 positive pairs, 2 negative pairs, p = 0.033). Interestingly, there was no correlation between the CRIES-13 and HABS instruments (Spearman's Rho = -0.228, p =.25), possibly implying that the EFP treatment effects are multi modal, working in multiple directions at the same time. Significant results in both measures suggest that EFP may be a viable psychotherapy for traumatized youth suffering PTSD symptomotology. However, given a limited sample size and the absence of a control group, further investigation is warranted. |
| Genre | Thesis |
| Topic | Horses -- Therapeutic use |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/28469 |
